Congrats Albany! I am happy that you will keep a team in the TUC next year. No one deserves to lose a team after 15+ years of supporting hockey. Now I only hope the Phantoms can make this a true rivalry and actually win some games!

@ Anthony The Phantoms will stay for another year (maybe 2 if Allentown delays building the new arena)!!!

By the way, on PTI, they announced that the Phoenix Coyotes might move back to Winnipeg and become The Winnipeg Jets once again!!! What will happen to the Manitoba Moose next season if this happens?!!!

@ #11 & #12, When word came of the Devils coming back to Albany, I thought to myself how many times has a minor league affiliate come back to a city they once recently left? I believe the Mets who are Buffalo once again at the Triple-A level used to be affiliated with Buffalo way back and there are probably other examples. And now there’s the artists formerly known as the Jets potentially moving back to Winnipeg.

Say this of the River Rats, even though they only turned a profit one year, that’s one more year than the Phoenix Coyotes ever did in their 14 year run in the desert.

As much as I applaud the NHL for moving back into a hockey hotbed, it’s too bad the AHL has to lose the Manitoba Moose. Shame to lose a couple of names like the Moose and River Rats, but maybe this will be a trend and they’ll move Atlanta, Nashville and Florida to Quebec, Hamilton and Hartford.

Glens Falls proved the AHL wrong, I hope Winnipeg does the same to Gary Bettman and the NHL.

As a WBS Pens fan, I am glad you guys are going to have a team next year.

As far as the Phantoms leaving Glens Falls, they may be there longer than the two years as I do not believe that work has started on the new building in Allentown. Honestly I hope that hockey stays in Glens Falls, it is such a nice area and the arena (while old) is a gem for minor league hockey.

I don’t think the Moose are going anywhere, a quick check of their website has advertisements for season tickets for next year. But all that can change…

Hey Mark I heard a report lastnight that the Devils may be having a press conference here in Albany on Friday. You know if this will happen on Friday? If it is true do you know if fans are welcome to attend or if it is just for the media? And if it is true and fans are welcome to attend do you know at what time it starts?

Yea thats wierd that an important press conference, especially when they are here locally are closed to the general public. Fans who have supported hockey here have been waiting so patiently. Other minor league markets, especially Glens Falls have opened their announcements to all fans. A press conference or public announcement would be a great way for the team to start marketing itself, espcially since its getting off to such a late start.

Chipman owns the franchise, not Thomson, the misconception is Thomson is the owner, all Thomson did was own the real estate tht once Winnipeg Arena came down and TSNE proposed MTS Centre tht’s where he fits into TSNE.

AS FOR Thunder Bay, there’s no suitable arena for the Moose nor would Vancouver want to be having their affiliate there as WINNIPEG is closer to VAN, nor do I see TSNE holding on to Manitoba if the Coyotes return there (unlikely if the premise is Glendale 1st), Mark, the premise was the Moose were bankrupt when Chipman acquired them when the Wild were announced after the Norm Green relocation to Dallas aka the North Stars (’93).

the AHL already tried Quebec several times, Michael (isn’t Hamilton IN Fact, the old Citadelles)? aot only tht but Hartford is a current member of the AHL.

ifa move like that ever happens with the coyotes moving back to winnipeg i hope the moose go to lowell. but i am not for any move of the coyotes to winnipeg. winnepeg stunk as far as a fan base the only time anyone went to the games was when they were winning and in the playoffs other than that al i remeber seeing when winnepeg was on tv was empty seats and a lot, very embarssing for an nhl team and a country that supposedly lives and breathes hockey

@Anthony, great question, what IS holding up the deal? Sure, Lou has a *lot* on his plate these days: find new coach, trade “rotten apple” players, make offers to NHL team’s UFAs and RFAs, meet scouts to prep for Draft Day, make deal with TUC, find minor leaguers to fill the AHL and ECHL rosters… But if he inks the deal with TUC, that’s one done! Thank goodness the NHL Devils season finished early, gives him a little extra time to do it all! :P And to make things worse, the guy hates to delegate. The AHL Devils have their own titular GM who could pick up some of the minor league slack, eh?

@21.
For clarity, I have not done any personal research on this subject, but rely on journalists (Mark and Pete included) for any information I bring to the discussion.

I never said Thomson owns the Moose as I don’t know, but he is the only person prepared to bring the NHL to Winnipeg and would be making the Moose move. He at least should pay for potential Moose relocation.

Finally, an article published on a seperate, and credible, sports website says that Thunder Bay is a likely destination because some team executives are from
there. (I’m vague to make sure this post gets through)

Whatever may be the case, with the Devils season ending early maybe its a good time for an organizational change in philosiphy. A change where winning and performance is essential at all levels of the organization as a whole. The concept is quite simple, players who want to advance to the NHL from the AHL and likewise from the ECHL to the AHL need to show they can compete. The Devils have lost their winning edge over the years, and father time is breathing down their better players backs for years now. Yea we got used to seeing the run and gun Carolina style for a while but lets face it, defense and goaltending win league titles. I want to see a team that can run with a team like Hershey. A team that is disciplined, holds you at the blue line, wears you down, then when your out of gas a team who puts the puck in the back of your net whether the goal is pretty or not. Another important thing are special teams. A team that can kill penalties well, and score on the power play are qualities of a great team. You dont have to be the fastest or fancy to be good.

The AHL is currently in the playoffs, that is first priority, when the season is concluded they need to get things ready for the next season ( schedule dates, division alignments, franchise shifts, etal) New Season starts in OCtober OCTOBER, focus on baseball season and let the ALbany AHL situation work its way out.

@26 and every post about it before it. With all do respect who really cares about the whole Manitoba thing. This here is to discuss the Albany situtaion. Not weather Manitoba is going to have this team or that team or who owns them.